Petehs



uniTED sTATns PATENT onnion.

`HENRY BURT, or BosToN, MAssAoHUsETTs.

MACHINE Foa KNITTING sTocKINGs, ew.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 3,275, `dated September 23, 1843;`Ressued i February 28, 1860, Nos. 915 and 916.`

To all fui/wm t may concern j p Be it knownl that I, HENRY Burri', ofuBoston, in the county of Suffolk. and State of h/Iassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in `Looms for` Knitting Stockings, Shirts, Drawers, and

Various other Articles, and that the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, constitutes n a .full

and exact specification of the same.

0f `the drawings above mentioned Figure l, represents a topview of a knit-ting loom constructed on my improved plan. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the rearside. elevation of the righthand end. Fig. an elevationof the Aleft hand end. is a vertical section taken through the central part of that portion of the apparatus on which the weaving is accomplished, the eye of the observer being supposed looking toward the right hand end of the machine. Fig. 7 is a similar section taken with the eye of the observer looking toward the left hand end of the mechanism.

Such other figures as may` he necessary to fully exhibit the several parts will be hereinafter enumerated and referred to.

All the operative parts are supportedin their relative positions by means of a sintable cast iron or metallic frame A. The

driving shaft is exhibited at B, Figs. 1,6, aiid r. It revolves in proper boxes or bearings situated on the top o-f the framework and: has a fly wheel C and a geared piiiio-n D on j one end, the said pinion' engaging with a spur gear E placed on one extremity of a horizontal shaft F, as seen in Fig. l. A

ybeveled pinion G, secured upon the other `end of the shaft F, acts on the beveled wheels I, T and turns a horizontal shaft H either in one direction or the other meansof a` clutch L) according to circumstances as will be hereinafter set forth.

The shaftI-i has `a toothed pinion M,

Figs. 6, 7, upon its other extremity which engages with a toothed rack N applied to the underside of a movable carriageor platform O, Fig. l.

Suitable parallel rails P, P, sustain and guide the carriage O during its movements to and fro. Two vertical standards Q, Q, elevated upon the top of the `carriage O, support a cylindrical rod R, extending be- Fig. et is an` tween them, or from one to the other of them, as seen in Fig. l.

uponl the cylindrical rod R.

degree of friction a spring T is secured upon its upper edge, one end of the said spring having a small stud or pin projecting from its underside and passing through a, suitable slot cut through the tube and resting or bearing upon the cylindrical rod R, or any other well known and suitablecontrivance for pro'- ducing friction may be employed in lieu thereof. A screw U, Fig. l, serves to regulate the pressure of the spring T upon the rod. i

p A horizontal arm V, extending forward fro-in the top of the sliding tube, supports and carries the yarn guide or tube lV,

"if, (see Fig. 2) whose upper ends are supi ported upon pivots or adjusting screws Z, Z,

passing through the arm V, which is shaped for the purpose as seen in Fig. l. A small roller a Figs. 2, 6, is .attachedupon the lower part of the'right hand side of the 'i' piece Y. Uien the depressing bar c descends, the periphery o-f this roller comes in contact with the projecting edge of a horizontal ledge Z) (arrangedupon the upper part of the depressing bai-c) and thereby throws the yarn guide forward, or from under the depressing bar-the purpose of such a movenient cf the saine being to permit the depressing bar to descend upon the hooks of the needles. On the elevation of the depressing bar the T piece is carried backward `or beneath the depressing bar by means of a spring [Z connected to the upper side of the arin V. andto the tcp of theT piecef The sliding carriage 0 has a small horizontal rail` piece e affixed to it just by the side of and extending parallel to the sliding tube S, and under the arm V. A screw e? passing or screwed through the arm `V abuts against the top of the rail piece. `This screw serves to elevate or depress the arm in order to regulate the level of the point of the yarn guide with respect to the needles, and such other regulating screws as may be necessary may be used.` i

The needles upon which the loops for the stitches are formed, are represented at f, f. f. They consist of a series of wires inserted in and projecting from a plate or bar g, Figs. 2, 6, 7, and having their upper ends pointed and bent over o-r hooked as seen in Figs. G, 7. Each of these needles should have a longitudinal groove formed in its upper side, or that part of it just below the point of the hooked end, the object of the same being to receive the po-int of the hook when it is bent down by the depresser bar c. Each of the needles is arranged between two vertical Vdepressing hooks g, g of a series of said hooks and these hooks are forced downward by means of a series of short depressing levers It, 7L, one end of each of which rests upon the top o-f one of the stitch hooks while the opposite moves lupon a fulcrum or joint z' Fig. 6, which permits the lever to rise and fall in a vertical plane. The peculiar shape of the depressing lever is exhibited in Fig. 6, wherein it will 'be seen that the rear part of it has a projection 7c on its upper side and a cavity Z directly adjacent thereto, and between the fulcruin of the lever and its end which rests on the stitch hook.

The carriage O has two arms m, m, Fig. l, extending horizontally from it and united together at their ends by a cross bar a Fig. 2. A short horizontal shaft 0 is supported between the arms m, m, by screw pivots p, p. From the central part of the shaft 0 an arm g extends inward toward the center of the machine, and supports or carries at its inner end a roller r and two inclined planes s, t extending on the sides of the roller as seen in Fig. 8 (which is a vertical section of the roller and the planes together with some of the depressing hooks beneath the same). Directly by the side of the roller r there is another and larger roller u, which is situated and moves under and against the horizontal bar o. This latter roller plays within the recess or cavity Z of the depressing'levers but does not bear upon the said levers; its object being to hold the roller r down inl its place, and this is accomplished by the horizontal bar o, which extends between two uprights 0.0,10, and has adjusting screws by which it may be raised and depressed. The roller 1 and inclined planes s, t, act upon the top of the projections 7c, 7c of the .depressing levers and the object of each of the inclined planes is to depress the stitch hooks or sinkers before the roll r commences to act thereon.

' By the said arrangement of inclined plane, in conjunction with the roller thc levers are depressed with less friction and Y liability tov injury or lateral pressure than if the roller alone acted thereon. The uprights fw, w, which sustain the bar 'v are screwed to the side crank arms Figs. l, 2, t, which project from the journals of a plate g/ (Figs. 1, l0) which extends entirely beneath the depressing levers and raises the sinkers or stitch hooks. Each of the sinkers passes through a slitor opening cut in the plate and when the plate is raised it bears against shoulders or cap pieces e, a, fixed on the top of the stitch hook plates or sinkers. The sinkers or stitch hooks are supported in their vertical positions by being passed thro-ugh slits sawed into two horizontal plates m4, a* (see Fig. l0, which is a front view of a few of the sinkers, the depresser bar being supposed removed, and the bar or plate oft, which. presses upon the front edges of the sinkers, being partially cut away to represent the plates mt and n4, and the sinkers in the rear of it.)

Friction is applied to the sinkers (to prevent them from dropping downward when they are raised) by small curved pieces of watch spring p4 placed in rear of them or between them, as seen in Fig. l0. The uprights w, in, are placed upon the crank arms ai, and between their fulcra and outer extremities as seen in the drawings, Fig. t so that when the arms are elevated the bar o will be raised upward and will permit the roll r and inclined planes s, t to rise when the sinkers are elevated by the plate y.

The crank arms ae, are elevated and depressed by connecting rods a, a jointed to the same, and also jointed at their lower ends to arms Z1', b (Figs. 4l, 2, 1,), .which carry what may be termed the cloth bar c. This cloth bar extends between the upper ends of the two arms t, and is connected thereto by suitable regulating screws by which it may be correctly adjusted to the position of the needles. The object of the cloth b-ar is to secure the woven cloth -in its place immediately on the needles having carried the stitches through the loops, and during their advancement to their proper position for the formation of the loops thereon. This is accomplished by the edge of the cloth bar pinching the cloth between it andthe sinkers. The arms J, 2) turn on fulcra at their lower ends and they are forced outward by means of rods c, e, connected to them at points between their fulcra and their upper ends. The other end of each of the rods c, c abuts against one of two cams j, 7 fixed upon what I term the cam shaft g, which is revolved by a spur gear i, fixed upon it and engaging with the gear E, before mentioned. YThe counteraction of the arms b, b, is effected by springs z, 2, or by any other convenient means.

The next portion of the mechanism to be described, is that by which .we are enabled to narrow and widen the cloth, or that by which the extent of the movements of the thread guide are regulated at pleasure, in order to give to the cloth the-requisite from the shitting bar, and in order to regulate their correct distances apart 4trom each i per corners onscrew pivots or bearings m,

im` passing through the tops otxed standards n, nr. There is a small tooth or projection 0 Fig. l,`extending from the side of the sliding tube S, and which, when the stoprack 7c is thrown against the same, enters into one of the spaces between the teeth of the rack and this contines the tube S and y yarn guide in position, although the car riage o is still` permitted to move. The lower edge or part ofthe bar o-r plate Zto which the stop rack is applied is actuated or thrown to-ward the tube by means of an "arm p. projecting from a verticallever or )ieeel which vibrates on a einer fiilcrum i r see Fig. 9, at its lower end. The vertical "edge of this lever, opposite to that from which the arm p extends, has a roller s applied to it, whose periphery rolls upon a `little rail t raised uponltheshifting bar a".

rThis rail has acurved depression o at each of its ends, into which the roller falls when the stop rack is thrown out of gear with the tube S, the said rack being so thrown out of gear by means of a spring w which presses against the lower part of the plate towhich the stop rack is attached.

The shifting bar u rests and moves longitudinally` upon the top of the frame A. Both ends of it bear against friction rollers ai', y', and the said bar has a series of teeth c', e formed upon its edge nextthe carriage O; these teeth in number corresponding with the number of needles. Movable shoulder pieces or stops a2, a2 are inserted in the teeth .4', a" and rise "above the same. They may be constructed `in any convenient man-` ner so as to be easily attached and removed other they should'have one or more teeth applied totheir'lower side and inserted in the spaces between the teeth e, e.

A stud b2 projecting fromthe carriage O extends between the stops a?, a2. Zhen the stud b2 comes into contact with either of the stops a2, a?, it causes the shifting bar to move in "one direction longitudinally7 according to whichever stop it acts against. This raises the roller s out of the depression c" and upon the rail t and throws the stop rack into gear withthe tooth ofthe tube S, and thus holds thel.yarn guide still while the carriage continues to advance for the purpose of throwing the clutch L out of gear with both of the beveled wheels I, K, or `bringing it centrally between them, and

causin a clutch c? on the cam shaft r to be engaged with the `spur gear /i,iby which the cam shaft is revolved,"and also to mo-ve the Vupon the needles at the proper time by means of two cams (Z2, cl2, fixed upon the im cam shaft g, each of the said cams acting against the extremity of one of two pitmans e?, e2. The opposite end of each pitman is "jointed to one end f2, of a bent lever f2, g2, y Zbwhich has its fulcrum at its end Zi? and 5 has an arm Figs. f1, 2, applied to its outer side and extending upward and jointed to i the end of the depressing bar c. Each of the levers f2` g2 Zz? and its arm 2, constitute together, a toggle joint by which the bar c A is bornedownupon the points of the needles with` a great degree of force, or with suih- `cient force to sink all of the said points into the grooves beneath them, counter-acting 1,2 a Sp1 ings Zt i, OI' other 13101361* CODtIlVallCes 85 which elevate the depressing bar c at the requisite.-` period of time.

The bar into which the needles are inserted isarranged so as to be moved or slid torwardand back by means of two armsgo` Z2, Z? projectingfrom it and connected with cams m2, m2 on the cam shaft, by means of small pins extending from them into grooves 71,2, of the cams. The. revolution of the cam shaft thus actiiates the bar g.

By examination of Figs. 6, will be perceived that a portion of the groove of each cam m2, has two curved pieces 02, p2, which turnupon centers g2, g2,

and are capableV 'of being moved upon thermo plate `ot the'cam and set at variable distaiices from the center thereof and conhned in an" iosition b screws r2 rgj The ob-` ject ot these movable pieces ot the cam is to "regulate `the distance to which the needles aie drawn back to draw the stitches through the loops, and this distance must vary according to the `ineness or quality of the yarn used during the processy of knitting or according to the closeness of the work to be produced.

A helical thread or plate `s2 is formed upon the crank shaft, extending about `one haltl the way around the same.

wheel 2 (see Fig.` 9, which is a vertical section taken through the cam shaft at the place where the lett hand cam fin-2 is situated thereon, the said cainbeing supposed to be removed in order to represent the parts to 12a ing upward through it. A circular and 125 horizontal header2 is arranged on they top of the hollow arbor u2, the same having a circular depression .r2 in its central part and live or any othersuitabl-e odd number of cavities or recesses y2, y2, radiating from the 1.30

95 7 and 1l its `This operates in connection with a horizontal toothed central depression m2 as seen in Fig. 1, the

rsaid cavities y2 being at equal distances apart from each other. A pin a7 (whose position is represented in Fig. 1, by dotted lines) projects from the lower side ot the shifting bar u and o-perates within the circular depression and the recesses y2. On the side of the shifting bar a are two projections e2, rr", between which one end of a bent lever 3 is situated, as seen in Fig. 1. The opposite end ot the leverl is fixed on the top of a short vertical shaft c3, (seeFig. 3) suitably supported in bearings. The lower end of the shaft c3 has a horizontal lever (Z3 extending from it (in a direction toward the lett end or right hand, when viewed in Fig. at right angles to the lever on its upper end, and the left extremity of the lever Z3 has a short fork eg extending upward from :it and entering into a groove f3 of the clutch L.

0n the upper side of the front end of the lever Zr" one extremity of a long connecting` rod g3 is jointed, the other end of the rod being similarly jointed to a bent lever 7b3 3, 7c3, the fulcrum ot the said lever being at Z3, while its opposite end 7c3 is ointed to one extremity ot a bar Z3 whose other end is jointed to the upper sid-e of a long and horizontal. bar fm. The said bar '1n-3 is suitably supported in guides so as to move longitudinally a short distance to and tro and is bent downward at its right hand end and forked and inserted in the groove ot the clutch c2 before mentioned. Zhen the arm Z3, k3, oit the bent lever Zig, 3, 7e3, is brougl'it into line with the bar Z3 the clutch L is out of gear with both ot the beveled wheels 1, K, and the clutch c2 is thrown into gear with the spur gear ZL by which the cam shaft is moved. But when the arm il, 703 and bar Z3 make an angle with each other on the trent side of the bar m3, the clutch c2 is thrown out of gearwith the wheel Zt, and the clutch L in gear with the beveled wheel So, when the said arm and bar orm an angle with each other on the rear side of the bar m, the clutch c2 is thrown out of gear with the wheel /f/ and the clutch L in gear with the other beveled wheel K.

A cylindrical rod n3, sliding through bearings 03, yf', is jointed at its trontend to a connecting rod 73, whose opposite end is jointed to the shifting bar u at a point near its right hand end. The rod n3 has a sliding collar r3 adapted to it and capable of being tixed thereon by a set screw.

One end ot a strong helical spring s (eucoinpassing the rod fnf) bears against the collar rt, while the opposite end rests or abuts against the front side ot the bearing 0'". rlhis spring forces the red at 'forward cr presses the shitting bar close against the `friction roller y. Ey inspection et Fig. l.,

it will be perceived that the shitting bar has two projections t3, a3, on the front side of the end oi it in apposition with the roller y. The part of the front side ot the bar extending between the said projections is regularly curved from one to the other as seen in the drawing. The peculiar province ot' these project-ions is, in connection with the rail if to determine the distance that the roll 1" and its inclined planes shall pass beyond the thread guide; and the manner by which the same is etiected will be described after the enumeration and explanation of certain other mechanism intimately connected therewith.

The lei't hand end ot the shitting bar is extended toward the lett as seen in Fig. Il, and connected with the pattern cylinder of* in such manner as to admit of the revolution ot the pattern cylinder on its axis, independently ot the bar, and at the .same time so that when the bar slides longitudinally in one direction or the other it shall carry or slide the pattern cylinder' with it.

The pattern cylinder o3 consists ot two conical heads w3, w3 united to a tube 003 which rests and slides longitudinally and revolves transversely upon a cylindrical rod ya suitably connected to the frame work. To each of these heads a piece or curved plate z3 of sheet iron, or any other proper material, is attached the inner edge of each oi' these plates being shaped according to the pattern or form of stocking or other article to be woven, and the said inner edges being arranged at such distances apart from each other as shall determine the distance which the thread guide shall move to and tro laterally. Their object is the same as the movable shoulder pieces or stops co2, o2 and in order to etllect their intended purpose they are connected with the carriage O by means of a long bar a* the right hand end of which is attached to the carriage (Y) while the opposite end is bent at a right angle or has a projection b4 upon its rear side, which enters and plays between the inner edges of the pattern plates.

Zhen the carriage in its movement brings the projection 7)* in contact with the edge el one of the pattern plates the pattern cylinder commences to move longitudinally and of course to move the shitting bar u with it, and consequently elevates the roller s out of the depression of the rail t and upon the said rail, thus throwing` the stop rack into with the tooth ot the tube S. The pattern cylinder' is revolved on its axis with the requisite velocity by means of a crank pin ct on the lett hand end of the cam shaft ,(/Q striking, as the shaft revolves, against the underside of an arm (Zt projecting from a horizontal shaft e* and tripping or elevatino' the said arm until it passes by it,

when the arm is drawn back by a spring f4.

The opposite end ot' the shaft has another arm g? extending `from it, which elevates a series of pawlsor clicks /zff which engage with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 4 attached to the shaft on which the pattern cylinder moves, or the saidpattern cylinder may be revolved on its `axis by any other suitable means. As the cloth is woven it is wound upon a beam or roller 7.35. When the yarn guide' stops at either termination of a row of stitches woven it becomes necessary to throw its point forward a short distance inorder to clear it from the sinkers which are depressed by the continued movement ofthe roll r and its inclined planes s, t. This is accomplished "by a plate 7st, (Fig. l2) o-f the requisite length, aliixed to the front face of the cross piece n. The two vertical sides of this plate are beveled or chainfered olf atabout an angle of forty five degrees each. A screw Z4 inserted through the T piece of the yarn guide abuts against this plate when the point of theyarn guide thrown Aoutward or out of the line of the hooks of the sinkers. Vhen the yarn guide is laying the yarn over theV needles vthe end ofthe screw is against the cioss piece n, and as soon as it becomes necessary to ,move the point of the yarn guide forward the movement ofthe carriage() and the stationary position of the tube S causes one of the beveled edges of the plate 7c* to meet the poiiit of the screw Z4 andto force it forward while it passes up the inclined plane of the beveled edge andV thus removes it out of the way of the sinkers or depressing hooks by which the loops are formed upon the needles. j

Havingnow described the construction of the several parts I now proceed to explain their method of operation.

The carriage O being put in motion carries the yarn guide with 1t 1n order to dis-` tribute or lay the yarn upon that part of the needles in rear of their points. As soon as the yarn guide has arrived at the extent of its motion (which is determined either by one of the stops a2, or by one of the sides, of the pattern plate, meeting` the projection h4) the tube S to which it is attached ceases to move (or is'stopped by the rack 7c being thrown against the tooth or projection 0, and the carriage still continues its motion in order to carry the roll r and inclined planes s, t a short distance beyond the yarn guide. During the time the yarn guide has thus moved over the teeth it has been followed by a successive depression of the hooks or sinkers g, g', upon the yarn and between the needles, by which a loop `is formed over each of the needles.

As soon as the yarn guide is stopped by the rack 7c it is thrown forward by the plate ist as before mentioned, in order to clear it from the succeeding stitch hooks depressed by the roll r. The needles then retreat a sho-rt. distance so as to bring the inne'r points of their hooks over and beyond the loops. The depressing bar c then descends upon the upper side of the points of the needles and presses the said points down into the grooves formed below them in the shanlrs of the needles. `The needles then retreat and carry their points through the stitches upon them, and at the same time dragthe loops through the stitches, thus forming new stitches of the said loops. The cloth bar c also rises upward against the cloth and retains the same back in its place, or against thatpart of the sinkers below the stitch hooks thereof, during the advancement of the needles forward to receive a new row of loops. yates the sinlrers together with the roller bar f also rise at the same time and as soon as the needles have completed their advancedrawn away from the cloth. i

The projections t3, n3 before mentioned are intended to effect the change ofclutches The plate {z/ which eleof theA impelling shafts. When the shift- `ing bar has thrown the rack bar forward so as t0` arrest `the movement of the tube S 1t` becomes necessary to apply some retentive power to the shifting bar in order to counteracft the tendency yof the spring S3 to slide it longitudinallv` and change the clutches before the requisite time and Athis is attained by means of the projectionsta, n3 and the friction curve between them,` for while the roll ,r and inclined planes are passing beyond thethread guide the frictionroller gj is in contactwith either the right or left half of `the curve between the projections and is rising up the said curve an'dfpressing the right end of the shifting bar laterally until the roll a' has attainedthe extent i of its motion beyond the thread guide when the projection orend of the curve passesby the center of the roll and thus throws the whole power of the spring s3 upon the shifting bar and slides the same longitudinally and effects the change of the clutch and stops the carriage O during the time of the revolution of the cam shaft. In orderto prevent the power of the spring from thro-wing the clutch L into gear with one of the beveled wheels the pin, before mentioned, as projecting from the underside of the shiftingbar and entering into the cir cular depression x2 strikes against that part of the vertical periphery of the circular depression which is between two of the spaces y2, y2 radiating therefrom. Then while the cam shaft is revolving the helical thread or plate s2 turns the toothed wheel t2 and the arbor u2 a sutlicient distance to bring one of the recesses Q2 in apposition with the pin, which being accomplished the spring s3 will throw the shifting bar a still farther distance longitudinally or the pin thereof into the said recess, and thus again effect a change of the clutches in order to move the carriage O and the yarn guide in an opposite direction.

Having thus explained my invention I shall claiml. The mechanism for narrowing and widening the same consisting of the movable stops c62, a2 combined with a rack of teeth or other suitable contrivance formed upon the shifting bar and acting upon the carriage O of the yarn guide as set forth, o-r of a pattern cylinder o combined with the shifting bar and the carriage O and operating therewith substantially as described.

2. Also the stop raclr is combined with the tube S of the yarn guide and actuated in the manner and for the purpose as set forth.

3. Also the mechanism which effects the changes of the clutches the same consisting of the shifting` bar, the arbor u2 having a circular depression and radial recesses in its head, and levers and other parts connected to the same and connecting the same with the clutches the Whole being arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore specified.

4:. Also the stationary roller 1/ and the projections t3, n3 and their intervening' curve (formed upon the shifting bar) in combination with the spring s3 o-f the sliding' toggle bars; and also in combination with the rail t and its depressions, the whole being for the object as described.

5. Also the cloth bar c arranged and operating in the manner and for thepurpose as set forth.

6. Also the particular method by which the depressing bar c is carried and forced down upon the pointed ends of the needles in order to press them into the grooves in their Shanks-viz. by a combination of bent levers f2, g2, 7b2 and arms 2, the same being actuated substantially as described.

7. Also the manner of raising the stitch hooks, viz. by an elevating plate y, through which they extend and which is combined with and operates them as set forth.

S. Also the method of clearing the point or' lower end of the yarn guide from the depressing bar when the latter descends upon the needles, viz, by a ledge Z) in the latter in combination With a roller a applied to the T piece of the yarn guide the Whole being as specified.

9. Also the method of clearing the point of the yarn guide from the stitch hooks when the roll 0" passes by the thread guide or as soon as the lateral motion of the thread guide is stopped, viz-by the beveled edge plate 704 (applied to the cross piece a) in combination With the screw or other contrivance of similar character projecting from the T piece of the yarn guide.v

10. Also the mode of adjusting or regulating the distance to which the points of the needles shall retreat, viz, by the movable curved pieces 02, 292 making part of the cam m2 the same being arranged and yoperating' substantially as explained.

ll. Also the combination vvith the mechanism (the arm (i, and shaft 0, supported by pivots 2), p) which sustains and carries the roller r, of the depressing and elevating bar 'u raised and depressed by machinery substantially as described.

in testimony that the above is a correct specification of my vsaid invention I have hereto set my signature this fifteenth day of July in the year eighteen hundred and forty three.

HENRY BURT. itnesses t R. H. EDDY, G. Davis DANA.

[Fmsr PRINTED 1913.] 

